F Series vs. ZD

[Gem99ultra]

Had one of those Snappers many years ago...lol

I also had one... an 8hp 30" model. It would cut grass knee high without hesitation, but "fast" was not a part of Snappler's vocabulary. Cutting a little 3/4 acre lawn was an all day job. My replacement mower, a ZTR will do the same yard in 30 minutes.

 

[5030]

I don't believe zero turns were even invented when the Snapper riders came out. I look at a ZTR is a progression of the Snapper design.

 

[CigTopGun38]

Beleive it or not I haven’t pulled the trigger on a unit yet. Local dealer just had a zd1211 show up last week. Finally got to see it today. I will say one thing…the Kubota is built infinitely better than the competition. It’s not even close. Like a tank. The dealer is telling me he won’t sell me a zd1211 72”. He also won’t sell me a rear discharge. So it’s side discharge zd1211 60” or zd1611 72”.

Others on here say they haven’t had issues with 72” on zd1211’s. We are in New England. Not sure if location makes a difference.

 

[Brown Dog]

If you have hills and / or let grass get really thick : the little 24hp will definitely bog & slow you down.
I sold my 1211 & went 1511.
I liked it so well : i bought a ZD1611 too.

 

[RjCorazza]

Beleive it or not I haven’t pulled the trigger on a unit yet. Local dealer just had a zd1211 show up last week. Finally got to see it today. I will say one thing…the Kubota is built infinitely better than the competition. It’s not even close. Like a tank. The dealer is telling me he won’t sell me a zd1211 72”. He also won’t sell me a rear discharge. So it’s side discharge zd1211 60” or zd1611 72”.

Others on here say they haven’t had issues with 72” on zd1211’s. We are in New England. Not sure if location makes a difference.

I just finished cutting 5 acres of thick 8" spring grass with a 72" side discharge ZD1211. Cuts like nobody's business.
It won't blow through high grass like my previous ZD331, or the current ZD1611, but I do not find it underpowered.

 

[TripleS]

I only have two acres to mow and I went from a 52" Gravley ZT to a f2560 with a 60"RD and it cut my mowing time in half but I still think I like the ZT better. Maybe because that's all I have ever had. The steering wheel just feels funny after using the ores 25 years. F2560 I mow in high with throttle wide open it doesn't have a rpm gauge, I would guess speed is probably around 4-5mph but if I floor it probably will run 8-10mph but it would bounce me off. Lol

 

[anomad]

I read this thread today since it is the time of year to obsess about mowing. Lots of good info. Some of ya'll mow a lot. I just mow my combined family property and some common areas for the community.

I have a SCAG V-ride 2 and a 6ft land pride rear finish mower for my little Kubota B2601. Had been thinking about sending them down the road and getting an F series. Doesn't sound like that would be a good move after reading.

If anyone is curious... The SCAG has a 52 inch deck and the 37 horse Vanguard. I can mow circles around myself compared to the tractor with the stander. It is also terrifying, obnoxiously loud even with solid hearing protection, and drinks gas like an old Ford 460. With the tractor you can just mosey along, barely sipping diesel, and daydream up high in the seat. The stander wants you to slam energy drinks and listen to Slayer. But it sure is fast and the cut quality is amazing at full speed in well maintained areas.

I may go with a 6 foot stander next season. Or a ZD if I find 20k in cash laying around I forgot I had...

Side note: I got the SCAG partly because the local County Government mowing crew has a lot of them to mow all the county property. The local shop knows all about them and my neighbor down the road is the main sales dude. So I have great service if and when I need it.

 

[Hay Dude]

Beleive it or not I haven’t pulled the trigger on a unit yet. Local dealer just had a zd1211 show up last week. Finally got to see it today. I will say one thing…the Kubota is built infinitely better than the competition. It’s not even close. Like a tank. The dealer is telling me he won’t sell me a zd1211 72”. He also won’t sell me a rear discharge. So it’s side discharge zd1211 60” or zd1611 72”.

Others on here say they haven’t had issues with 72” on zd1211’s. We are in New England. Not sure if location makes a difference.

Your dealers salesman is full of crap, as most are.

I guarantee you, unless you’re cutting fields or lawns left to grow MUCH taller than normal, you’ll have no issues with a 1211-72.

One of my customers has 2 small fields we cut every other week (14 days between cuts) and we cut through them same speed as the lawns cut weekly. Only difference is we cut the fields at about 5” and the lawns at 4”.

My guess is the salesman knows you want a 72” cutting deck, and he’s trying to scare you out of a $20,000 ZD1211 and scare you into a $24,000 ZD1611.
All in the disguise of “saving you from making a mistake”.

They’re all pretty shameless.

 

[Brown Dog]

Your dealers salesman is full of crap, as most are.

I guarantee you, unless you’re cutting fields or lawns left to grow MUCH taller than normal, you’ll have no issues with a 1211-72 …

OR if he’ll be mowing hills & steep banks like I do here on the farm.

My old 1211-72 was great on flat ground & mowing weekly but it’d just barely crawl up these hills here : boiling my blood pressure.
So frustrating & I don’t mow fast because my ground is so rough.

I didn’t realize how much the 3cyl 1211 vibrated until I stepped up to the 4cyl Turbo 15 & 1611.

Everybody’s mowing is different tho & the 1211 fits most folks applications just fine

 

[Brown Dog]

If anyone is curious... The SCAG has a 52 inch deck and the 37 horse Vanguard. I can mow circles around myself compared to the tractor with the stander. It is also terrifying, obnoxiously loud even with solid hearing protection, and drinks gas like an old Ford 460 …

Those gas zeros revs so hi of rpm with lots of vibrations drinking gas as you mentioned.
The Kubota ZD1211 & bigger is expensive & a one trick pony but they’ll outperform any mower out there with their “transmission” & shaft driven deck.
IF you mow much grass it’s worth every penny to own one & know it’ll be dependable for many years imo